Up to 5 million payment card accounts may have been compromised, the fast food chain says

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 3:00 PM CDT Sep 27, 2017

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN DORIGHT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR DATA.rtSTEP ONE CHECK YOUR CREDITREPORT FREE OF CHARGE BY GOINGTO THIS WEBSITE,ANNUALCREDITREPORT.COM.rtBASED ON FEDERAL LAW, YOU'REENTITLED TO A FREE ANNUAL REPORTFROM EACH OF THE THREE BIG U.S.CREDIT REPORTING COMPANIESEQUIFAX, EXPERIAN ANDTRANSUNION.rtYOU'LL NEED TO PROVIDEINFORMATION TO VERIFY YOU AREWHO YOU SAY YOU ARE LIKE YOURNAME, ADDRESS, AND SOCIALSECURITY NUMBER.YOU'LL THEN GO TO THE WEBSITE OFrtTHE CREDIT REPORTING COMPANY YOUSELECT WHERE YOU CAN MAKE SUREYOUR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE>> THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE WHATrtACCOUNTS ARE OPEN THAT ARE TRULYYOURS.TODD: NOW IT'S TIME FOR STEPTWO.THIS ONE'S EASY, SINCE YOU CANGET A FREE CREDIT REPORT ONCEEVERY 12 MONTHS, CREATE AREMINDER IN YOUR SMARTPHONE ORrtON AN OLD-FASHIONED CALENDAR TOCHECK YOUR REPORT AGAIN IN ONEYEAR.MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, SET ADATE, SET A REMINDER.DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO REMINDYOURSELF.rtTODD: WHILE THE THIRD STEP ISDESIGNED TO GIVE YOU PEACE OFMIND, IT REQUIRES A LITTLE MORETHOUGHT.EXPERTS I'VE TALKED TO ENCOURAGECONSUMERS TO PLACE A FREEZE ONrtTHEIR CREDIT REPORT WITH ALLCOMPANIES, DOING SO CAN KEEPTHREE IDENTITY THIEVES FROMOPENING NEW ACCOUNTS OR GETTINGCREDIT IN YOUR NAME.THE DOWNSIDE OF A FREEZE IS THATYOU'LL NEED TO THAW IT WHEN YOUrtWANT TO APPLY FOR A NEW CREDITCARD OR FINANCE A BIG PURCHASE.LIFTING A FREEZE CAN TAKEANYWHERE FROM A FEW MINUTES TOTHREErt DAYS IF YOU REQUEST ITONLINE OR THROUGH THE MAIL.AND, UNLESS YOU LIVE IN INDIANA,CREDIT FREEZES AREN'T FREE.IN OHIO, A FREEZE COSTS UP TO$5.IN KENTUCKY, A FREEZE CAN COSTUP TO $10.rtEACH STEP I JUST OUTLINED WORKSFOR ONLY ONE SOCIAL SECURITYNUMBER.SO IF YOU'RE MARRIED, YOU ANDYOUR SPOUSE BOTH HAVE SOME WORTO DO.I KNOW I'VErt GIVEN YOU A LOT TOTHINK ABOUT, WHICH IS WHY YOU'LLFIND PLENTY OF USEFUL LINKS ONWLWT.COM.

Fast food chain Sonic on Wednesday became the latest company to confirm a potentially massive data breach that could impact up to 5 million people.Sonic, which had 3,557 locations in 45 states as of August 2016, says it was notified of unusual card activity by its payment processor last week. It's unknown when or how long hackers accessed customer data. According to KrebsonSecurity, account numbers lifted from the company were found for sale on Joker's Stash, a "virtual hub of stolen card data."“Our credit card processor informed us last week of unusual activity regarding credit cards used at SONIC,” the Oklahoma City-based restaurant chain said in a statement. “We are working to understand the nature and scope of this issue, as we know how important this is to our guests. We immediately engaged third-party forensic experts and law enforcement when we heard from our processor. While law enforcement limits the information we can share, we will communicate additional information as we are able.”Sonic isn't the first company to get hit by hackers - Arby's reported a similar incident in March, along with the InterContinental Hotels Group in February and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino franchise in July.Data breaches will cost businesses a total of $8 trillion over the next five years, according to a global report from market intelligence firm Juniper Research.A 2015 report showed that more than $315 billion had been lost by businesses around the world during the past 12 months, highlighting a need for harsher cybersecurity regulations."Looking at the recent months, even weeks, there is no question that data breaches and cyber attacks continue to accelerate globally - both in number and frequency," Kestutis Malakauskas, CUJO Chief Security Officer, tells us Wednesday. "Considering cybersecurity is a key national risk, we will definitely see more strict regulations being introduced to public and private entities across the globe."Were you affected by the data breach? If you believe you've been affected by Sonic's data breach, stay vigilant. Closely monitor all bank accounts for suspicious activity. Write down any financial transactions and ensure they coincide with monthly statements. Don't neglect any online payment portals you use, such as PayPal, Venmo and Facebook. If you believe your payment card information has been stolen, contact your provider and request a new account number. You can place a fraud alert on your credit report here.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. —

Fast food chain Sonic on Wednesday became the latest company to confirm a potentially massive data breach that could impact up to 5 million people.

Sonic, which had 3,557 locations in 45 states as of August 2016, says it was notified of unusual card activity by its payment processor last week. It's unknown when or how long hackers accessed customer data.

“Our credit card processor informed us last week of unusual activity regarding credit cards used at SONIC,” the Oklahoma City-based restaurant chain said in a statement. “We are working to understand the nature and scope of this issue, as we know how important this is to our guests. We immediately engaged third-party forensic experts and law enforcement when we heard from our processor. While law enforcement limits the information we can share, we will communicate additional information as we are able.”

A 2015 report showed that more than $315 billion had been lost by businesses around the world during the past 12 months, highlighting a need for harsher cybersecurity regulations.

"Looking at the recent months, even weeks, there is no question that data breaches and cyber attacks continue to accelerate globally - both in number and frequency," Kestutis Malakauskas, CUJO Chief Security Officer, tells us Wednesday. "Considering cybersecurity is a key national risk, we will definitely see more strict regulations being introduced to public and private entities across the globe."

Were you affected by the data breach?

If you believe you've been affected by Sonic's data breach, stay vigilant.

Closely monitor all bank accounts for suspicious activity. Write down any financial transactions and ensure they coincide with monthly statements. Don't neglect any online payment portals you use, such as PayPal, Venmo and Facebook. If you believe your payment card information has been stolen, contact your provider and request a new account number.